IN PICTURES: A look at how the assassination attempt on Trump at Pennsylvania rally unfolded
Trump rally shooting: How failed ‘assassination attempt’ on ex-POTUS unfolded
Donald Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13, turned chaotic after a gunman fired shots at the former president. The Secret Service agents immediately surrounded Trump, who ducked to the ground after covering his ears following multiple gunshots. A Secret Service sniper fatally shot the suspect, a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania, and the former president, whose face had blood, was instantly rushed off the stage to his motorcade. The FBI started an investigation, considering the event an assassination attempt. Moments from the rally showed the dramatic turn of events at the venue that followed the gunshot.
1. Donald Trump covers his ear after gunshot
Five minutes into Trump's speech criticizing President Joe Biden, a gunshot rang out, prompting the former president to abruptly halt his address. It was followed by a series of gunshots, causing Trump to cover his right ear immediately. The attack injured the upper side of his ear, which was evident from the blood on his face while he was rushed offstage by Secret Service agents.
2. Trump crouched on the ground, surrounded by Secret Service agents
The Republican presumptive nominee crouched to the ground amid the continuing gunshots that erupted the crowd into a frenzy. The Secret Service agents attempted to safely shift a wounded Trump from the stage to his motorcade.
3. Secret Service agents swarm Trump
Videos from the event depicted the panic that rushed through each person witnessing an assassination attempt against Trump. The Secret Service agents were swift to swarm the former president, who ducked his head following the gunshots. They surrounded him, obstructing any possible view of him to the shooter, who was shortly killed on the spot.
4. Trump raises his fist to a raucous crowd
Coming face to face with death did not quell the politician in Trump. As the Secret Service lifted him off the ground, the MAGA spearhead raised his fist to the raucous crowd and chanted, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" The right side of his face had blood, indicating a wound from the gunshot.
5. Snipers on alert after gunshot injures Trump
Snipers immediately surrounded the rally stage, where the Secret Service remained covering Trump, who was crouched on the ground. With loaded arms, the snipers were alert, looking for the shooter. Immediately after knowing the shooter was down, the former president, who looked disheveled, was lifted off.
6. Trump rushed off stage
Several Secret Service agents completely covered Trump while helping him exit the stage in a hurry, moments after the assassination attempt. Completely surrounded by them, the ex-president stepped down as the crowd chanted "USA! USA! USA!"
7. Blood on Trump's ear
Images from the event showed the blood on Trump's face was from a wound on his right ear. The real estate mogul later said in a Truth Social post that the gunshot pierced the upper side of his right ear. "I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound and shots and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!" Trump added.
8. Trump rushed to his motorcade
Secret Service hurried Trump to his motorcade parked close to the rally stage. Stepping into his car, the former president again reassured his supporters, raising his fist.
9. Attendees scatter after gunshots fired at Trump
Trump's supporters scattered at the venue, panicking after gunfire rang out at the rally venue in Butler County. An attendee was killed, and two were seriously injured. A witness, Ben Macer, recounted seeing the shooter on the roof of a nearby building. "When I turned around to go back to where I was, it was when the gunshots started, and then it was just chaos, and we all came running away, and that was that," the attendee said to CBS News.
10. Deserted rally venue
An empty rally venue in Butler County portrayed the chaos that erupted minutes into Trump's speech. Campaign signs and empty water bottles were seen on the ground after the former president was rushed away from the scene. The supporters gathered also deserted the venue after the unexpected turn of events.
